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IN STEP
Step right up to your go-to gift for 2010: a Kt Stepper. These custom-designed must-haves do double duty to dress up your little darling's bedroom, playroom and/or bathroom décor and serve as a highly functional new addition that's guaranteed to help your lilliputian feel like he or she is standing tall in his or her new role as a “big” kid. Coveted by celebs and in-the-know interior designers alike, these personalizable stools might be high in style but they're low in cost (many are less than $30). They'll have you giving yourself a symbolic high five for savings.
(Prices vary, www.ktsteppers.com)
HOME BASE
It's 2010—and environmentally conscious isn't just a choice, it's a necessity. Fortunately, necessity and style aren't mutually exclusive anymore. Case in point: Modern Eco Homes, a veritable hub of all things eco-fabulous and eco-friendly. Founded by impassioned eco-warrior Kristen Banker, a woman on a mission to empower people to make better, aka greener, choices without having to sacrifice their own personal aesthetic or spend a fortune, Modern Eco Homes has a base of more than 50 (and growing) environmentally and socially responsible merchants and their eco-chic wares for you, your man, your kids, your friends and your home that make going—and staying—green a natural.
STOP AND SMELL THE COOKIES
Give your junior Julia or mini Emeril a taste of fun with the Playful Chef Kids Cooking Set. Perfect for little ones ages 3 to 5, this comprehensive kit comes complete with everything from lessons in kitchen safety to easy-to-follow, age-appropriate recipes; dishwasher-safe child-sized cooking tools; a handy-dandy red tool-belt-style apron; measuring spoons and cups; a baking pan; and a mixing bowl. Not only does this slice-of-life selection teach kids how to stir it up in the kitchen, but it also offers a number of rich lessons in math, reading and nutrition as well as fosters confidence-boosting independence and illustrates the importance of following directions. Brought to you by the good eggs at ChocolateCakeClub.com, a unique site created to give busy families the high-quality products they need to bring a little more gooey goodness (aka a chocolate cake moment) into their lives, this sweet set is sure to cook up some lasting memories.
($42.95, www.chocolatecakeclub.com)
TOGS, YOU'RE IT
Keep your cuties warm and toasty in Wonderful Woollies by the popular Play All Day Gear. Hats, mittens and long johns, oh my!—this fabulous line of winter wear is made from organic Merino wool for kids ages 3 months to 3 years. These super-hot togs are made in the good old US of A and available at Monkey Hugz, a natural parenting and baby gear one-stop shop (that also offers some valuable information on everything from organic cotton to breast-feeding). The site, brought to you by sustainable living experts Hillary and John Mizia, makes a habit of supporting worthwhile charities, too, taking shopping with a conscious to a new level of cool. You've heard of walking your talk, right? Well, now it's time to hug your talk!
(Prices vary, www.monkeyhugz.com)
CARD STARS
Get a jump on your Valentine's Day love notes—along with the rest of your 2010 happies, thank-yous, hey-theres, guess-who's-here-and-look-at-how-much-she-weigheds and merries—with the exquisite personalized greetings from RUVA cards. Whether your style is chic, modern, classic, trendy, sentimental (minus the schmaltz), strong, charming or witty, RUVA's unique lines—baby announcements, party invites, stationery, holiday cards and gift sets—make statements that are always as well-received as the wishes they're delivering.
(Prices vary, www.ruvacards.com)
CREAM OF THE CROP
Forget change you can believe in. How about a little change that you can feel, smell and touch? IC Organic's (IC, as in, Influence Change) organic bath and body line is leading the way when it comes to all-natural, gentle, nonallergenic baby care that seeks to nurture the skin they're in while contributing to the greater good (the family-owned, Oregon-based company donates 10 percent of your purchase to Justice for Children). Made from rich, handcrafted, time-tested formulations and packaged in sustainably chic jars and bottles, these ultra-nurturing products keep Baby's tender skin creamy and dreamy minus the icky chemicals. Got belly? Slather away those stretch marks and up your skin's elasticity with their heavenly Belly Butter. A luscious mix of organic jojoba oil, aloe vera and natural vitamin E oil, this potion is so good, you'll want to use it even after your beloved bump has come and gone.
($42, Belly Butter, www.icorganics.com)
COZY A GO-GO
Keep Baby feeling safe and snug with this made-in-the-USA, oh-so-soft portable security blanket extraordinaire from PocketLovey. Available in several different fashionable prints and color combinations, including customizable options, these plush, handcrafted cozy-makers—part lovey, part developmental toy designed to help your infant transition into a well-adjusted toddler and foster hours of imagination-moving play—soothe at home and on the go minus the Linus drag and dirt that follows. Did you get all of that or did you just hear whaa-whaa-whaa-whaa-whaa-whaa because I am an adult?
(From $28, www.pocketlovey.com)
BOYS ON FILM
Gift your favorite Casanova-in-training with this photo-op-worthy, tongue-in-cheek set from cool-hunters Boogs Baby Booteek. When the little dude dons this 100 percent cotton, ultra-soft onesie featuring a most apropos (and probably lasting!) moniker, matching beanie (for warmth—and mad style), socks and vegan-leather-made crib shoes that sport the ironic motif on the closing straps and the silver side stripe, the joke's got legs, baby. Why, we can just see the photo being flashed up on the screen during his rehearsal dinner montage now. You're welcome, son. You're welcome.
($40, www.boogsbabybooteek.com)
BAG THE SEASON
Shoulder all your on-the-go-go-go mom-sponsibilities with this fashion-meets-function bag from the affordable-luxe gifting site OrangeandPear.com. Evocative of a Prada classic, the clean and modern silhouette almost belies its usefulness. Made from a durable nylon and complete with three exterior and six interior pockets, small leather feet, and a detachable market-purse appendage, this ever-chic carryall is as comfortable as it is head-turning—especially in this stunning, soft gold.
($365, MZ Wallace Jane Bag in gold twill, www.orangeandpear.com)
STREET CHIC
Chase the clouds of doldrums dressing away with these one-of-a-kind tees from Morfs, a Virginia-based, mom-owned apparel company on the cutting edge of kids fashion thanks to its artistic and socially responsible designs. This season's Sesame Street cut-and-sew graphic application T-shirts give a modern spin to a childhood classic. Direct from the style hivers at LilSwanky.com (the name does say it all, doesn't it?), this sunny-day-making kiddie wear is sure to be a standout among the swing set crowd.
($68, www.lilswanky.com)
